Toothless Germs Can't Bite:
Scientists Research Antitoxins

To stop an infection, most doctors automatically reach for an antibiotic, the most effective way known to kill off infectious germs.

But antibiotics are the nuclear weapons of medicine -- they often also wipe out helpful bacteria and foster the growth of drug-resistant germ strains. Some infections, such as anthrax, can also progress to the point that even eliminating bacteria with antibiotics won't save a patient's life.